Deterioration of Concrete in Fertilizer Factories

The paper deals with causes leading to the deterioration of concrete floors and columns in three fertilizer plants. All the three plants have massive reinforced concrete and some exposed steel structures. In various processing sections extensive chemical corrosion of concrete and steel had been observed. Spillage of chemicals acidic in nature, high humidity and condensation of vapors and gases, and intense vaporization and crystallization effects—particularly in reinforced cement concrete prilling towers— appear to be the main causes of deterioration of concrete.

Physico-chemical investigations of the specimens of concrete indicated the possibility of formation of calcium nitroaluminate and sulfoaluminate hydrates, calcium sulfate and nitrate, calcium carboaluminate hydrates, etc.